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Matt's Story

Guitarist Matt is turning his passion and talent for music into business after joining Greater Manchester Talent Match at Breakthrough UK.

When Matt first met Breakthrough’s Talent Coach Richard he found social situations a barrier, and realised this was impacting on his search for employment.

Matt said: “I wasn’t really doing much before, I’d been visiting the Jobcentre for about a year, without much progress in my search for work.”

Matt said: “I joined Talent Match from the Jobcentre in January. We’ve been working on how to approach searching for work. It’s great help in finding and getting more awareness of the opportunities there are and how to look around.

“Having the meetings with Richard has helped dealing with barriers in social situations, and how to approach difficulties I may have.”

Matt said: “I’ve been playing music for about five years now, playing guitar and drums.” Matt has attended Maunders School of Popular Music where workshops allowed him to showcase his ability. Through this his confidence has grown and having joined as an amateur player now works running the workshops and teaching at Maunders.

Together Matt and Richard have been to an Enterprise advisor at the Jobcentre for practical advice on how to start a business, such as business plans and financial support.

Matt then intends to begin as a guitar teacher, both privately and through other organisations.

Through the assistance Richard gave in the search for the next step, Matt applied and was offered places for college courses to study music at BIMM Manchester and Access To Music.

In October he is beginning a course at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, studying for a Diploma in Artist Development and Performance.

Breakthrough Talent Coach Richard Phillips said: “Matt is making great progress and together we’ll be continuing to work on what’s important to him.